Current Production
We are not planning to run a touring production for 2022/23 – our first year off since 2004! – but we will continue to offer our usual workshop programme.
In the meantime you can browse all our past productions, stream films of them online, or buy lots of lovely production resources.
If you’re in London in Summer 2022, you can always join us for…
Current Production: UBU (Autumn 2020 - Spring 2022)
“Some people would say that UBU did terrible, blooderous things…”
Behold the tale of UBU! He likes power so much he refuses to give it back.
UBU! Can you resist the charm of this puffed-up lump as he guffs his way to THE TOP?
UBU!! Watch as this all-conquering buffoon deviously despatches anyone who gets in his way.
Who will stop UBU? No one will stop UBU!
Expect the unexpected! … Or the entirely predictable!
UBU!!!
Splendid Productions present a brand new creative adaptation of Alfred Jarry’s surrealist classic. We explore power, leadership and ambition with our usual heady concoction of music, laughter, politics, foolishness and hard-hitting theatrical nonsense.
THIS TOUR IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Think there’s no theatre after lockdown? THINK AGAIN!
Our Artistic Director Kerry Frampton has come out of retirement to perform our creative adaptation UBU, based on the PATAPHYSICALLY STUPID proto-DADAist play sequence created by Alfred Jarry. The production is now available to book until April 2022.
The show is created for a self-contained cast of two (Kerry and Splendid Veteran Scott Smith), and designed to adapt to any social distancing guidelines in effect. No lighting or additional technical equipment is required – get-in and set-up can all be done by the cast.
We are offering UBU as
- a 3hr session (60min performance with one or two 90min workshop/s) – £600+VAT
- a 6hr session (60min performance with one or two 4hr workshop/s) – £1100+VAT
- 60min performance only with optional Q&A session (includes evening sessions) – £600+VAT
- Public performances in some actual theatres (!)
UBU BOOKING INFORMATION
December 2021 update: The Spring tour of the show is now sold out for in-school performances and workshops, but you are still welcome to use the booking form to be added to our waiting list, as there are often cancellations (especially at the moment!)
There is no restriction on audience size for the performance (allowing for distancing guidelines), and we can provide 1 or 2 simultaneous 90-minute/4hr workshops, with a maximum of 20 in each group if appropriate spaces are available. We will adhere to any group size restrictions in place at your school.
The workshops accompanying UBU are a choice of:
- UBU: Splendid Style – what we did and how we did it
- Practitioner workshop on Brecht – key techniques
- Physical Ensemble Storytelling – making performances thoroughly theatrical
The session price includes our fattest-ever 45-page education pack, and the production will be filmed for a DVD/streaming release planned for early 2022.
Theatre dates and tour schedule are below, you can use the booking form or email us if you have any questions.
More information: Production prices
UBU Theatre Dates
Date
Venue
Time
Tickets
Tues 18 Jan / Greenwich Theatre, London / 4.30pm & 7pm / greenwichtheatre.org.uk / 020 8858 7755
Tues 1 March / Pleasance, London / 4.30pm & 7pm / pleasance.co.uk / 020 7609 1800 – ON SALE NOW
Thurs 3 March / Whitty Theatre, Wokingham / 2.30pm / 0118 974 3247
Tues 24 Mar / Blake Theatre, Monmouth / 7pm / theblaketheatre.org / 01600 719401
Ticket Prices from £12.50 (£10.50 concessions). Prices vary and booking fees may apply. Group rates are available, contact theatre box offices for best offers.
UBU tour schedule (2022)
| SPRING 2022 | |
|---|---|
| Date | Area |
| 5 - 7 January | To be scheduled |
| 11 - 13 January | To be scheduled |
| 17 - 20 January | London & surrounding area |
| Tues 18 January | Greenwich Theatre, London |
| 11 February | To be scheduled |
| 21 - 25 February | To be scheduled |
| 17 - 20 January | London & surrounding area |
| Tues 1 March | Pleasance, London |
| 2 March | To be scheduled |
| Thurs 3 March | Whitty Theatre, Wokingham |
| 8 - 10 March | To be scheduled |
| 15 - 17 March | To be scheduled |
| 22 - 24 March | SOUTH WALES & SOUTH WEST |
| Thurs 24 March | Blake Theatre, Monmouth |
Splendid Productions’ ‘UBU’
Touring until Spring 2022
Based on: The Ubu Plays by Alfred Jarry
Adapted by: Kerry Frampton & Ben Hales
Directed by: Kerry Frampton
Additional Direction by: Matt Wilde, Cordelia Stevenson
Songs by: Ben Hales
Design by: Kerry Frampton
Costume by: Kerry Frampton, Heather Castle-Rainsbury
Cast & Characters
Kerry Frampton: UBU
Scott Smith: The Writer
Midsummer Mechanicals: Splendidly Shakespearean summertime shenanigans at the Globe
We are beyond excited to announce a collaboration between Splendid Productions and Shakespeare’s Globe in London: MIDSUMMER MECHANICALS.
Midsummer Mechanicals is a new play written by Splendid’s Kerry Frampton & Ben Hales (with a little help from Shakespeare). It’s performing in the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse from 28 July to 21 August 2022 – a delightful theatrical treat for audiences of all ages.
It’s a year after the events of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’. The wonderful troupe of actors from Shakespeare’s play have gathered for the debut performance of their brand new piece, written by their own Nick Bottom (played by Kerry Frampton), an astounding original work which tells the story of his own adventures in the deep forest, one midsummer night not so long ago…
But as every theatrical artisan knows, anything can happen on opening night!
It’s a relaxed, family-friendly show full of songs, joy and expert foolishness; perfect for the midsummer holidays.
Find out more at the Shakespeare’s Globe website.
I Love You But F*ck Off
A new devised piece of autobiographical theatre from Splendid’s Artistic Director Kerry Frampton and her daughter Matilda Wilde – available for in-school performances (ages 16+ only).
On the eve of her 22nd birthday, Kerry Frampton got pregnant, catapulting her into the life of a young mum. 25 years later, Matilda’s wondering how her mum did it.
Together, mum and daughter retrace the events that have defined them. Bound together in a constant cycle of separation and closeness, how do you figure out who you are, separately from the people that are a part of you? Who are you without them?
That complicated, fierce, unquestioning love between two people, that is simultaneously too much and never enough. How do you navigate the world without that person?
Join this mum and daughter duo as they attempt to figure it out without ending up in close spoon or physical fight in the process.
